1 killed, 3 injured after gunman opens fire at high school in Washington state, officials say

ROCKFORD, Wash. (AP) — A shooter opened fire at a high school in
Washington state Wednesday, killing one person and
injuring at least three others, authorities said.

Brian Schaeffer of the Spokane Fire Department told reporters
that one person died at Freeman High School in Rockford, south of
Spokane, and three injured victims were taken to a hospital.

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital
received three pediatric patients, spokeswoman Nicole Stewart
said. They were in stable condition, and family members were with
them, she said.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said at the scene that the
shooter was in custody, The Spokesman-Review newspaper reported.

Cheryl Moser said her son, a freshman at Freeman High School,
called her from a classroom after hearing shots fired.

"He called me and said, 'Mom there are gunshots.' He sounded so
scared. I've never heard him like that," Moser told the
newspaper. "You never think about something happening like this
at a small school."

Ambulances and a Lifeflight helicopter were sent to the school.

Stephanie Lutje told The Associated Press that she was relieved
to hear her son was safe after his high school near Freeman was
put on lockdown. She commended the school district for its
communication with parents.

"It's been amazing, within probably 15-20 minutes of hearing
about it, I'd already received a phone call, I'd already received
a text message saying that their school is OK," she said.

She still worried for others she knew, including a co-worker who
had yet to hear from her son, a sophomore at Freeman.